Macrophages are Activated by body temperature

Professor Makoto Tominaga from the Okazaki institute for integrative Biosciences has observed that Macrophages, a type of cell that functions in immunity are activated by a few different cues.  One of these cues is an elevated temperature, which in human beings would be a fever.  The other cue is increased peroxide levels.  When activated, these cells engulf foreign pathogens.  This is known as phagocytosis.  A greater understanding of the processes that cue immune system response could lead to greater immunity to infections in human beings and other species.[gallery]